What is Your Portable Power?

By Bonnie Marcus -

Author and five time CEO, Margaret Heffernan, was recently a guest on my radio show, Head over Heels Radio. Our discussion covered many interesting topics relative to women and business, but one that really got my attention was what Margaret refers to as “portable power”.

Portable power according to Heffernan is unique to each person. It is the sum total of your skills and experience, your professional and personal networks, and your financial independence. You own this power and take it with you wherever you go.

I have given this topic more thought and a couple of questions come to mind. How many women are actually aware of their portable power? If they were more connected to their portable power, would they behave differently?

Let’s try to do our own assessment. How would you rate your own portable power as defined by Margaret Heffernan?

1. Skills and Experience

List all your business and personal skills.

Business: i.e. computer skills, analytical skills, business acumen, selling skills, creativity, problem solving, team player, visionary

Personal: i.e. organized, tenacious, passionate, loving and nurturing, soulful, healthy, focused, outgoing

List your business and personal experiences

What has your experience in business taught you?

what companies have you worked for?

what industries?

what different types of positions?

what have you learned about running a department? your own business?

What  life lessons have you learned?

childhood experiences

relationships, children

community activity

living in different parts of the country, the world

travel

education, reading

2. Rate your personal and professional network strength

Who is in your personal network? Look at your email address book, Facebook and other social media friends, your cell phone contact list.

Estimate the number. I bet it’s a lot, right?

Your professional network consists of business colleagues from past as well as current positions, people you have met through networking events and online.

Count your social media connections as well.

Which is larger, your personal or professional network? Where is your strength?

3. Rate your financial independence

How much money is in your checking account? Your savings account?

What about your 401K? stock portfolio?

Do you own your own home?

Are you worried about paying the rent each month?

How long can you live comfortably without a pay check?

How do you rate your financial independence?

If  “portable power” is the sum total of all of this: your skills and experience, professional and personal networks, and financial independence, how powerful are you? Where do you need to devote more time and effort?

AND, will the knowledge of your “portable power” affect your decisions about whether or not to leave your job, start your own business, or leave a bad relationship?

Knowing how much power you have builds the self confidence to choose and make sound decisions. You take this power with you wherever you go. It’s who you are.

About: Bonnie:
Bonnie Marcus, M.Ed., CEC, is a Certified Executive Coach, motivational speaker, and radio show host. Her weekly show, Head Over Heels: Women's Business Radio, airs live on the VoiceAmerica Business channel Tuesdays 2pm Eastern. As the founder and principal of Women’s Success Coaching, Bonnie’s specialty is helping women in business achieve success and maximize their potential. She assists women with promoting themselves effectively in order to advance their careers and grow their businesses. Bonnie is well known for her motivational speaking and innovative workshops. She received a BA from Connecticut College and a M.Ed. from New York University. For additional information on Bonnie’s services, you can visit her website, http://www.womenssuccesscoaching.com Listen to Head Over Heels: Women's Business Radio http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1612

View the original article here